It really does take all senses to keep an eye on your vehicle’s health and smell is one of the most important. If you notice one of these odors emanating from your car, it could mean trouble.
HIGH-SCHOOL GYM
This typically indicates that your AC/heating unit contains mildew. One of the easiest ways to dry out moisture buildup, which causes the smell, is to turn the AC off and run your fan on high.
ROTTEN EGGS
A rotten egg smell is often due to a bad catalytic converter. This part is designed to convert the small amounts of sulfur found in gasoline into sulfur dioxide, which actually doesn’t have an odor at all. However, if the sulfur’s not converted, it can produce a noticeable smell that indicates a mechanical problem. Also, if your car smells like sulfur even when it’s not running, it may indicate some sort of leak. In any case, have your vehicle checked pronto to pinpoint the exact problem.
BURNING CARPET
This smell can mean a number of things including that your brake pads are overheating. If you smell this on normal commutes (i.e., not when driving down a long steep hill) check to see if your handbrake is on; if it’s not there may be a bigger issue that needs a look. If you are driving down a steep road and notice a burning carpet smell, try downshifting (whether you have a manual or automatic) rather than heavily relying on your brakes to slow down.
SWEET & SYRUPY
This generally indicates a leak in the coolant system or an issue with the heater core. When there’s leaking coolant, which contains a toxic chemical called ethylene glycol that has a sweet smell, don’t hesitate to have your car looked at by a certified mechanic.
These are only a few types of smells that cars give off when there’s a mechanical problem. Anytime you smell something out of the ordinary, make sure you bring your car to our service department to have it checked out.
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